Hello all,
My name is Raven Lester and my son name is Jhonas Erolien. He is 5 years of age and just started his first year of kindergarten a few weeks ago. He’s a very active child and actively in TAekwondo and other sports. My child is currently in the ICU fighting a disease that he got from the new variant From COVID 19. It all started as a high fever ranging from 101 and the highest was 105. I took him to the ER last Friday (08/27/21) with symptoms of high fever, not much appetite, complaints of his stomach pain, irregular breathing, weak and vomiting. We went to Advent Health ER in Brandon FL and they told us it’s a Viral, he also tested negative for COVID, FLU, Strep. They told me to alternate Motrin and Tylenol every 4 hours. I wasn’t having any luck with bringing down the fever so I followed up with my Pediatrician. They also did the same testing and everything came back negative so they said it can take 7-14 days and that he couldn’t go to school until his temp was under 100 degrees.
After this I still couldn’t get the fever down and his symptoms got much worse. He started being lethargic where I would have to carry him to the house from the car if I needed to get more medicine. On Thursday (09/02/21) I took him to a another Advent health which specialized in Pediatrician in Tampa, FL. They right away notice he was lethargic, and for third time did a nose swab for COVID and came back negative. They took blood and it came back abnormal. Then they did a EKG and ECO to check his organs. They found that his liver, kidney, heart, lungs, intestines were all inflamed. They did do an antibody test which came back that he had the COVID antibodies. I was shocked because as far as I known he never had COVID. But to find out that he had it before and evidently he was asymptomatic so I wouldn’t have known. His bloodwork showed abnormalities, his symptoms were escalated and since this disease is post COVID they suspected and confirmed he had MIS-C. Due to to MIS-C his organs were inflamed and he was rushed to St Joseph’s Pediatric hospital in Tampa to be admitted and treated by specialists.
I am traumatized by it all, people were rushing to my babies bed side, giving him IVs, checking this checking that. His blood pressure was very low, his heart rate was very high, still had a high temperature. I’m so thankful for the Nurses and Doctors because there were many moments when it was all hands on deck. My child got an IVIG, he’s on oxygen, he is very dehydrated and they are constantly giving him fluids. MIS-C is a multisystem inflammatory syndrome disease that attacks the organs through blood vessels. My child’s vision is effected, he’s on a heart monitor, he has fluid around the heart, his kidney and liver are abnormal, his intestines are inflamed, he can barely stand, his body is swollen, he has to get shots for blood thinner twice a day among other medication , he still needs fluid and who knows what’s to come. I’m terrified what’s happening to his vital
Organs.
His little organs has suffered 6 days before being admitted. I don’t know, no one knows the long term effects on this at all!! This is so scary for me! They told me he could of have COVID 2 months ago and this is the effect of it. He doesn’t have COVID now, I have no clue when he had it. Kids are A systematic so children can walk with the symptoms and parent wouldn’t even know it. I am struggling single parent and who works hard to take care of my child. I have not been able to work due to carrying for my child and being at my child’s best side. This could be your child. Please protect these babies so there not misdiagnosed and demand for blood work. Knowledge is Power research MIS-C.
My best friends made this Go fund me for Jhonas and this absolutely will help Jhonas ! We are still in the hospital, and the doctors even said it could be a couple weeks before he gets out and even with a full recovery I will have to give my child a lovenox which is a blood thinner for some time after. They are not aware of the possible long term effects and how it will effect his little body. Everything helps I’m a single mother his dad was actually deported to Haiti last year in result of COVID so everything is on me. I could really use your support. And please pray for my son. I hope Jhonas story helps out many parents and please educate yourself. I don’t want you to sit at home thinking it’s something when it’s actually a life threatening disease. This has been a terrifying nightmare for my son and I and my life has totally been dismantled because I am left with what IF’s? Thank you so much for thoughts and prayers and if you are able to donate it’s greatly appreciated.
I will keep you all abreast of this progress here at St. Joseph’s Children Hospital.